subject: Green Diy Energy [print this page] Solar power has become a strong force in the race torwards clean energy and guides like Green DIY Energy , which provide step-by-step instructions for building solar panels for the home, have become extremely popular. More and more people are taking advantage of this 'do-it-yourself era' and are now able to equip their homes with green, energy saving technologies.
The movement towards using the sun's power as a source of energy first emerged during the energy crises of the 1970's. President Jimmy Carter proposed to increase the use of solar power to 20% of our fossil fuel needs by the 2000. As gas and oil prices dropped, attitudes toward solar power changed. Most people viewed solar power as an inconvenient technology. Because of this, solar power never really caught on. However, as oil and gas prices have risen, solar power has become more popular now than ever before. A lot of us are realizing that the sun is the largest source of renewable power and that there is good reason to look to it for energy.
Take a look at the total amount of energy the earth consumes in one year. More amount of energy from the sun reaches the earth in one hour. There is no pollution associated with solar power. Despite it's benefits, less than 0.1 percent of the worlds electricity comes from the sun. The biggest limitation is finding ways to turn sunlight into energy that can be widely used. However, much progress has been made in the development of solar technology. Researchers have continued to find and develop new ways to use energy from the sun. Many believe that power from the sun will replace fossil fuel use worldwide.
Solar Power System:
Solar panels were developed as a mechanical method for storing the suns energy. Sunlight heats water which runs through the panel system. The hot water is then driven through a device called a heat exchanger which transfers the heat to water in a tank. The water is then used for bathing or to heat floors for interior warmth. With instructional guides like Green DIY Energy and others like it, installing your very own solar panel system is easy and relatively affordable.
